MANILA, Philippines — A total of P31.93 billion was released for the salary increase differential of different government agencies, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced on Wednesday.
The DBM said the amount was distributed to 257 departments and agencies as of Tuesday afternoon, while 58 more are being processed.
The department also explained that the release of funds is based on an agency’s submitted request for salary increase computation.
“We are doing everything we can so that we can release the budget to all agencies as soon as possible. Ito po ‘yung pinakahihintay ng ating mga kasamahan sa gobyerno (This is what our fellow government workers have been waiting for),” Budget and Management Secretary Amenah Pangandaman said in a statement.
“Of course, we also urge the heads of the departments and agencies to distribute immediately the salary differential since ‘yung increase (since the increase) po is retroactive starting January of this year,” Pangandaman added.
The pay increase for government employees is mandated under Executive Order No. 64 signed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. on August 2.
The salary increase will be implemented in four tranches: the first tranche on January 1, 2024 (retroactive); the second tranche on January 1, 2025; the third tranche on January 1, 2026; and the last on January 1, 2027.
DBM said that the funds have been disbursed to the following agencies:
- Congress of the Philippines
- Office of the President
- Office of the Vice President
- Department of Agriculture
- Department of Budget and Management
- State Universities and Colleges
- Department of Education
- Department of Energy
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources
- Department of Foreign Affairs
- Department of Health
- Department of Information and Technology
- Department of the Interior and Local Government
- Department of Justice
- Department of Labor and Employment
- Department of Migrant Workers
- Department of National Defense
- Department of Public Works and Highways
- Department of Science and Technology
- Department of Social Welfare and Development
- Department of Trade and Industry
- National Economic Development Authority
- Other Executive Offices (OEOs)
- Civil Service Commission
- Commission on Audit
- Commission on Human Rights
- Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
Further, the budget department also shared that it has created the Salary Standardization Law VI dashboard, “designed to provide real-time data on the budget releases for easier monitoring and effective oversight.”
Pangandaman noted that it is the department’s “commitment to transparency and open government.”
The dashboard can be accessed through DBM’s official website:https://www.dbm.gov.ph/